Push type golf putter used to impart overspin



July 30, 1968 .1. .1. ALLPORT 3,394,937

PUSH TYPE GOLF PUTTER USED TO IMPART OVERSPIN Filed April 5, 1965 (/OHN d ALL/ 027- INVENTOR.

yglfw ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,334,937 PUSH TYPE GOLF PUTTER USED TO IMPART OVERSPIN John J. Allport, 1375 Bobolink Circle, Sunnyvale, Calif. 94087 Filed Apr. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 445,336 2 Claims. (Cl. 273-175) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf putter which is slid along the surface of the ground to impart a forward spin to the golf ball on impact. The putter head diameter relative to the ball diameter is such that the ball is struck at a point higher than one-half the diameter of the ball.

The present invention relates to a golf club and more particularly to a golf putter of unique design and the method for using said putter.

The conventional golf putter is normally provided with a striking head having two substantially flat opposing faces at one end of which is connected a shaft or handle. When the club is swung, it moves through an arc-like path whereby the ball and the fiat striking face are brought sharply into contact creating an impact which propells the ball forward. However because of the inherent arclike movement of the striking surface, certain conditions arise which result in inaccurate putting. For example, the golfer makes the arc-like swing while standing almost above the ball making it difficult for him to reliably predict whether he will hit the ball above or below its horizontal, midsectional plane. If he hits the ball below this plane a slight pitch will be imparted to the ball along with a concomitant reverse spin, the combination of which, as hereinafter explained, results in inaccurate putting. In addition the putter is actually swung so that the point of impending impact invariably moves in a compound are thereby causing the striking head to slide across the face of the ball to some degree thereby imparting a side spin to the ball.

Moreover by standing directly above the ball while attempting to judge its path, the golfer is unable to keep the cup, ball and putter all in one field of vision creating a situation highly conducive to inaccurate putting.

In the event a ball is pitched it should have a slightly forward spin so that when it makes its initial firm contact with the ground no sliding will result. However, in those cases where a conventional putter strikes the ball in the lower hemisphere, this simultaneously creates a backspin as well as a slight pitching of the ball so that when the ball comes into firm contact with the ground it is rotating in a direction counter to that which it must roll by virtue of its momentum. It is necessary for the ball to cancel its rotational energy with its forward momentum with the net result that a great deal of error is introduced into the putt attempt.

It is an object, therefore of the present invention to provide a unique golf putter and a method for using said putter whereby it is not swung in an are.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a golf club and a method for using same whereby the point of impact will be predictably above the horizontal, midsectional plane of the ball so as to substantially eliminate detrimental backspin on the ball.

It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a golf putter and method for using same so that at impact there is substantially no side motion to introduce side spin to the ball.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a golf club and method of using same whereby ice a smooth and continuous adjustment of shaft angle with the putting green surface and with the position and height of the golfer can be effected.

It is another object to provide a golf club and a method of using same which permits alignment of the shaft with the desired path for the golf ball which alignment is readily maintained during the putting stroke.

Other and many of the attendent advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 shows the putting green in cross section wherein the putter of the present invention is used to propel a golf ball across a putting green and into the cup.

FIG. 2 shows in cross section a ball and putter employing a preferred embodiment of the striking head of the present invention.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show further preferred embodiments in cross sectional view, of the golf putter of the present invention.

FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 show in partial perspective views the putting heads of the several preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters represent like or corresponding parts throughout the views there is shown in FIG. 1 a golf green 10 with cup 11 therein and ball 12 resting on the surface of the green at some distance from the cup. The golf putter 13 of the present invention rests on the surface of the green 10 and with a sharp motion strikes the ball 12 propelling it toward the cup 11.

FIG. 2 shows the ball and golf putter 13 in cross section, just before impact wherein the putter is comprised of handle 14 and striking head 15. The striking head 15 has a convex striking face 16 which, on impact with the ball, transmits a controlled amount of kinetic energy thereto. The putter head also has a convex sole 17 which slides along the surface of the putting green in the course of the putting stroke. As a result the putting head traverses a substantially linear path as compared to the arclike path experienced in swinging a conventional golf club. The golf ball 12 is shown with a superimposed horizontal midsectional plane above which the putting force must be applied in order to avoid imparting a reverse thrust to the ball on striking. With conventional putters it is difficult to repeatedly strike the golf ball 12 at substantially the same distance above line 51 and, as a result various types and degrees of spin are imparted to the ball. However, in the present invention, the striking face 16 of the club is designed so that it is at a greater elevation than point 51 on the ball. As shown in FIG. 2 the equatorial axis 51 of the ball is at a height h from the ground 10, but the point of contact between the putter head 15 and the ball 12 is at point 16 on the striking face at an elevation H from the ground. Consequently it is an essential design feature of striking head 15 that the striking face 16 be at a greater elevation than midsectional plane 51 of the ball. Since the conventional golf ball in the United States is 1.68 inches in diameter, it is necessary that the impact point at striking face 16 be greater than 0.84 inch above the ground. For example, when the convex surfaces 16 and 17 are circular and continuous, the common radius for the two surfaces must be greater than 0.84 inch.

FIG. 5 shows the putter 13 in perspective view with shaft 14 affixed, at a point substantially equidistant from the two ends 18 and 19 of the head 15. Although this aspect of the design configuration is not essential for the practice of the present invention it is the preferred design as it does not detract from the putting aim. For example it is shown in FIG. 3 the golf club head may have a cross section which is substantially one half of a cylinder disected along its longitudinal axis. Here again the putter is provided with shaft 14 attached to head having striking surface 26 and a shoe portion 27 both of which are convex and, in this instance, substantially circular and continuous about a common center point. If the club of FIG. 3 is pushed across the golf green with the longitudinal axis of the semi-cylinder 25 parallel thereto, the club will ride on shoe surface 27 whereby the striking face 26 will apply a putting force to the ball standing in its path.

In FIG. 4 there is shown a still further embodiment of the present invention wherein the golf club head is comprised substantially of a cylinder connected to shaft 14 at a point whereby its center line intersects the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 35 approximately midway between the ends 38 and 39. This embodiment likewise has a shoe surface 37 and a striking face 36 for use in sub stantially the same manner as described above for the design configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2.

As shown in perspective view of FIG. 6, the cylindrical head of FIG. 4 has shaft 14 attached at right angles to the cylindrical surface at a point approximately midway between the ends 38 and 39 which ends are, preferably rounded or, as shown in FIG. 7, may be substantially flat.

In the use of the putter of the present invention the golfer, while standing behind the ball and away from the cup, lines up the head of the shaft 14 with the ball 12 and the cup 11 taking into account any green irregularities. By maintaining a relatively low angle between the shaft and the putting green surface, the putter can line up the shaft 14 of the club with the desired path for the ball which alignment is relatively easy to maintain during the putting stroke.

If the putter is moved across the ground so that the ball is pushed toward the cup, a more inaccurate putt results than when the ball is struck sharply. When the ball is so struck there is substantially a single point of contact for the application of the putting force, which point of contact, as described above, is in the upper hemisphere, thereby imparting a slightly foreward spin to the ball. This in turn causes the ball to roll rather than slide across the ground on initial contact. As discussed above by holding the handle 14 at a low angle to the ground the golfer may sight along the handle 14 thereof and strike the ball while preserving this alignment. When used in this manner substantially no lateral movement occurs between the surface of the ball and the sriking face which would result in side spin. Accordingly the putter of the present invention effectively eliminates unpredictable and detrimental side spin to the ball. Although the embodiments of the present invention show a partial cylinder as the preferred convex surface, other convex surfaces such as an elliptical surface will produce similar results. The significant factor to keep in mind in the design of the golf club head of the present invention is that the striking point 16 of the golf club head 15 as shown in FIG. 2 must be in the top hemisphere thereof. Although it is not necessary to have the convex surface extend as far as shown around the center axis, if these surfaces are extended slightly beyond the necessary points for a striking face 16 and a shoe surface 17 such as shown, for example in FIG. 2, the putter may be used in the reverse position whereby surface 16 becomes the shoe and the surface 17 becomes the striking face.

Even though it is preferred that the head 15 be comprised of a metallic material suchv as stainless steel, the striking head may be comprised of other materials such as wood, plastic, stone or any combination thereof. In addition the striking head may be either solid or hollow or contain certain indentations on surfaces which do not interfere with the essential aspects of the as described above invention.

Likewise, the handle 14 can be comprised of a variety of materials; however, normally the handle is comprised of a metallic material with a grip portion 8 at the upper end thereof. Morever the handle may take on a variety of cross-sectional configurations but normally it is preferred that it be cylindrical in cross-section. The handle has been shown in most instances above to intersect the focal point of the curved surfaces but this alignment is not absolutely necessary, but it is important that the club handle be positioned substantially between the ends such as 18 and 19 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7. If not the golfer will have difficulty maintaining the stroke alignment so as to strike the ball substantially midway between the ends of the striking head; this is because the club will meet with unequal resistance from the grass and turf on either side of the shaft making it difficult to maintain alignment during the stroke.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various structural details may be modified without departing from the spirit of the invention and it is intended that all such variations be included within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination a ball of a predetermined diameter and a golf putter for propelling said ball along a golf green wherein said golf putter is comprised of a head made from a body of a predetermined width extending from a first point to a second point, said body having a convex striking face and a convex sole which are the continuous surfaces of a cylindrical surface along said predetermined width, said head having a diameter relative to the diameter of the ball such that the striking point of the striking face is at an elevation higher than one-half the predetermined diameter of the ball, and a handle extending from said body at a point substantially opposite from the striking face and centered approximately equidistant from said first and second points.

2. A combination as in claim 1 wherein said body is a cylinder having a diameter greater than said predetermined diameter of said ball.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 138,380 7/1944 Myers et al.

656,099 8/1900 Dunn 273 1,409,966 3/1922 Plant 273175 X 3,226,120 12/1965 Borah 273-167 X 1,525,137 2/1925 Lawton 273175 2,472,312 6/1949 Parrish 273-175 3,231,281 1/1966 Wallo 273-193 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,733 1900 Great Britain. 26,975 1902 Great Britain.

706,285 3/1965 Canada.

16,148 1892 Great Britain. 27,807 1911 Great Britain. 277,146 9/ 1927 Great Britain.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

R. J. APLEY, Assistant Examiner. 

